Machine for oxidizing matrices for electrotyping.



No. 719,953. PATENTBD PERB, 1903.

Y C. M. OLIVER.

MACHINE FOR OXIDIZING MATRIGES FR ELEGTROTYPING.

APPLIOATIN FILED AUG. 26, 1902.

UNITED STATES` PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES M. OLIVER, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TOMAURICE JOYCE, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

MACHINE FOR OXIDIZING MATRICES FOR ELECTROTYPING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 719,953, dated February3, 1903.

- Application filed August 26, 1902. Serial No. 121,081. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern/ Be it known that I, CHARLES M. OLIVER, acitizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State ofMaryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machinesfor Oxidizing Matrices for Electrotyping, of which the following is aspecication.

This invention relates to machines for the oxidation of molds ormatrices preparatory to electrotyping.

The object of the invention is to applyironfilings or other tinemetallic particles to the face of molds or matrices and to spread ordistribute the sameV more promptly and uniformly than has been feasibleheretofore.

The invention consists in theconstructions and combinations hereinafterpointe out and claimed. A

Figure 1 is a section through the sieve, trough, and support, showingmold in trough.

Fig. 2 is a section oftrough in dierent posi-4 tion, showing mold andliquid. Fig. 3 is a cross-section on line 3 3, Fig. 1, parts beingomitted.

The frame A is of any suitable form to support the aXle or trunnions BB, which axle or trunnions support the trough C. The trough C is sobalanced on the trunnions as to swing or rock easily thereon. A pitmanD, as shown, is connected to a pivot or pin on the trough and to a crankwheel or disk E, mounted on the frame, which disk is caused to rotate byany suitable power. This swings or rocks the trough C, one end beingdepressed and the other elevated alternately. Any other mechanism forrocking the trough is considered equivalent mechanism, as it is quiteimmaterial by what means the trough is rocked.

The trough C has standards F F, and a cross-bar G extends from standardto stand'- ard. On this cross-bar G, which preferably is a round rod, asieve H is arranged, so as to both slide and swing on the rod.

The mold or matrix M which is to be electrotyped is supposed to havebeen blackleaded or otherwise prepared for oxidation before it is placedin the trough C with its face upward. Then sieve H is shaken or vibratedand iron-filings or other particles of metal are shaken down through thereticulated or perforated bottom thereof onto the mold M in the troughC. The trough C is open from end to end and contains a liquid, and itmay also contain a bag O of metallic salts of a character calculated toattack the iron-filings. Sulfate of copper is the agent usually employedin this bag. When the trough is rocked, any liquid therein contained isswashed back and forth over the mold, carrying with it the `particles ofmetal shaken down onto the mold. The waves of liquid wash the particlesof metal back and forth over said mold', and the chemical in the liquidis brought into position to act with great efficiency on the metallicparticles. The metal particles are thus spread out or distributed overthe face of the mold, thereby producing a more complete oxidation of themold than has been effected by other mechanism, so far as I am aware.The swashing of the liquid back and forth in the trough causes it tocome in contact with and percolate through the porous material of bag O,and the liquid may thus Wash out some of the soluble material from thebag. The bag, being preferably suspended at one end of the trough, willbe lifted out of the liquid when that end of the trough to which it isattached is lifted in its rocking movement.

Metallic particles or iron-filings are usually spread onto a mold ormatrix of the character described by means of a brush. The brushing isliable to injure the fine lines of the mold, and the metallic particlesare not so thoroughly and evenly distributed as is desirable. By washingor distributing with a liquid the oxidizing metal or material a muchmore uniform coatingiseffectedwithout danger of injury to Vthe mold.Furthermore, the swashing of the liquid back and forth in the troughtends to dissolve the chemical substance in bag or receptacle O and tomix and maintain a practically uniform strength or density of thechemical solution contained in the trough.

The liquid may be Withdrawn from the trough through cock P, and theundissolved ironfilings can then be strained out and IOO again used. Thechemical agent can be purified and regenerated in any usual Way.

What I claim isl. The combination, in a machine for oxidizing molds ormatrices, of atrough suitably supported so as to be oscillated, and asitter supported by said trough.

2. The combination of a rocking trough for containing molds or matrices,means formoving said trough, and means for shifting the metallicparticles ou the mold or matrix in the trough.

3. The combination of the supportingframe, a flat-bottomed trough openfrom end to end, trunnions supporting said trough from the frame, andmeans for rocking the trough on its trunnions.

4. The combination ot' the frame, an open trough trunnioned thereon, aporous receptacle suspended for rocking said trough, and

means within the trough for adding to the chemical supply in the trough.

5. The frame, open trough trunnioned thereon, and the sifter supportedfrom said trough by a transverse bar extending across the trough, allcombined substantially as described.

6. In a machine for oxidizing molds or matrices, a rocking trough, aliquid contained therein to flow across the mold or matrix when saidmold or matrix is in the trough, and means for supplying metallic powderto the mold or matrix while in the trough.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES M. OLIVER.

Witnesses:

MAURICE JOYCE, CHAS. K. DAVIES.

